In Pakistan, the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP,
designed an award winning, low-cost, energy-efficient and disaster resistant housing solution popularly known
as the "Benazir Housing Technology". This was showcased in the GSSD Expo 2010 (Washington DC) and
2011 (Rome) as "A Poor Person’s House in the Age of Climate Change".

The Government of Sindh, Pakistan, co-financed this pilot project to construct
400 such housing units in three different districts. The President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari,
inaugurated those housing colonies, which were later proven to be truly disaster resistant as they withstood
Cyclone Phet, the floods in 2010 and heavy rains in 2011.

The ownership of these houses was given to the women, which is a
substantial breakthrough in these gender sensitive poverty and disaster stricken areas. The
technology and project focuses on zero-usage of wood in the construction and roof, and encourages
locally available, environment friendly construction material. The proven resilience of this housing
structure has not only saved lives but also ended a cycle of poverty caused by frequent
disasters.

After the proven resilience and further research by GEF SGP Pakistan on
disaster resistant housing solutions, it is a global call to pilot and mainstream these houses in the
different disaster prone parts of the world. These housing solutions are not only good adaptation
measures, but also support for climate change mitigation efforts.